While most students are winding down the semester, one group is preparing for a whirlwind tour around the country.

Between May 15 and July 23 the Sooner Racing Team will travel to Michigan, California and Texas to compete in three Society of Automotive Engineers formula racing competitions.

Adam Lotia, public relations systems leader for the Sooner Racing Team, said Formula SAE is an international engineering competition where college students design, build and test a race car. Teams compete in autocross, acceleration, skid pad and endurance competitions as well as design, presentation and cost competitions.

One hundred forty teams from around the world will compete in the Detroit race. Lotia, broadcast senior, said the team is expecting to place in the top 10 in Detroit.

Last year, the team placed 25th out of 140 teams, said team captain Trey Wheeler, engineering graduate student.

The Detroit competition is the world championship of Formula SAE competitions because teams from all over the world race, Wheeler said.

After Detroit, the team will travel to Fontana, Calif., June 12 to race against 70 teams in another SAE competition.

Sooner Racing Team Caro 9 feet long and 5 feet wideo Maximum speed of 99 miles per houro Can go 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.744 secondso Weighs 440 pounds

Wheeler said racing is a passion for the team members.

"Most people don't think race car drivers are athletes," Wheeler said. "But it really wears you out because you are constantly moving and interacting with the car."

Lotia said while the car reaches speeds of 99 mph, it is safe because it is required to meet certain safety specifications in order to be eligible to race in SAE competitions.

Wheeler said the team spends 30 to 40 unpaid hours a week working on the car.

Lotia said this is the first year the California competition is taking place, and the Sooner Racing Team had a hard time affording the competition expenses.

"We barely scraped together enough money for the trip," Lotia said. "We might end up living in our car while we are out there."

The cost of going to a competition is about $5,000. This includes travel, hotel and entry fees for 12 people.

Wheeler said the team is managed in a way that resembles a small corporation. The team has an operating budget that ranges from $50,000 to $80,000 a year.

The team receives about $30,000 a year in funding from OU, the College of Engineering and the school of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Wheeler said. The team also is sponsored by major corporations such as Ferguson, Honda, Shell and 3M.

Kyle Walther, chassis leader for the Sooner Racing Team, said he likes being on the team because it is a good way to apply the engineering concepts he learns in class. Walther, mechanical engineering junior, said he got a job with Honda in 2004 after they saw his team race.

The team began designing this year's race car in July, started manufacturing the car in October and had the official unveiling in April.
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